Pipe cleaner



July 24, 1951 c. A. KLINGENSTIERNA 2,561,742

PIPE CLEANER Filed Dec. 24, 1946 Ciaes Axel Khngensi' evnm Patented July24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 24,I946,'SerialiNo.'718,187

In Sweden January 25, 1946 i 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a utensilfor cleaning, filling, boringand drying tobacco-pipes. The utensil consists of two parts, a tubularcasing and a needle member which can be used both separately and incombination.

The chief object of this invention is to, create a utensil which is veryuseful for cleaning. and drying tobacco pipes, and also for boring anddrying such pipes.

Another object of this invention is to create thetwo parts of theutensil in such manner that when used either in combination or singlythese twoparts excellently fill all the demands that can be made upon autensil of the said kind. At the same time they are very simple andcheap in manufacture and can easily be carried in the pocket after theneedle has been inserted into thecasing.

o Other objects will be evident from the following specification andclaims.

An embodiment of the utensil according to the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the needleshowing the positions of the shanks when the needle has been removedfrom the casing. i

Fig. .2 shows a side view of the tubular casing the needle insertedtherein.

Fig. 3 shows a part of a modified embodiment of a shank of the needle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the tubular casing.

Fig. shows a cross-section on the line V-V in Fig. 2 with the needleomitted.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section on the line VI-VI in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawing the reference numeral Idesignates a casing which consists of a tube open at both ends andpreferably made of metal. At both ends the casingis provided withflanges 2 and 2a, the flange 2a being preferably somewhat larger thanthe flange 2. Thetube should have a length substantially equal to thetotal length of the stem and the pipe neck of a tobacco-pipe. The needlemember 3 is somewhat longer than the casing I and is made of a resilientwire bent to form three shanks 4, 5, and 6. The shanks 4 and 5 areformed by the free ends of the wire, while the shank 6 has been formedby double-folding the middle portion of the wire, one part of the shank$.having been wound into turns around the other part at 6A. The bends ofthe wire as well as the winding 6A are made in such a, manner that theshanks diverge strongly. The double shank 6 is quired length from. thetube 2.

1301151011 86! as shown in Fig. 3. The thickness of the wire is sochosen that theshanks 4 and :5 can be inserted at the same time into thesmoke passage of a tobacco-pipe.

When the pipe neck and the stem are to be cleaned, the needle pushed outto the re- Because a the shanks tend to spring apart, the needle 3 issafely held in the casing tin its pushed out position. If the wholelength of the needle must be utilized, the needle is completely pushedout fromthe casing. If necessary, the needle may be extended bystraightening out. one or both shanksd, 5 so that the same will be inline withthe double shank 6. The pipe may be cleaned by inserting oneormore of the shanks into the pipe neck and thestem respectively- Thedouble shank possibly together with one or both of. the simple shanks issubstantially intended for cleaning the pipe neck, while the simpleshanks, either individually or jointly, are intended for cleaning thepipe stems.

If the pipe bowl is to be cleaned or bored, that flange 2 or 2a shouldbe chosen Which best suits the size of the pipe bowl. The flange has asuit- 7 able edge for removing slag and deposits from the pipe bowl.Such slag which has stuck in the opening of the casing I during thecleaning. may be removed by pushing out the needle. The bottom of thepipe bowl and the channel in the pipe stem are cleaned by means of theneedle 3 preferably using the casing l as a handle. The pipe bowl may atthe same time be dried by use of the shank points after beating themover the flame of a match or the like. When a foul pipe is to be driedmore heat is required and then the end of the casing may be used for thedrying after the end of the casing has been heated over a gasflame orthe like. Owing to the great length'of the casing it is then possible tohold its opposite end in ones hand without burning the fingers.

In order to obtain a, suitable, concave, somewhat open tobacco fillingin the pipe when filling the same the bent end of the needle 3 should bemoved to a level with one of the edges of the easing I. When now thetobacco put in the pipe is pressed down into the bowl by means of theeasing I, this filling will be hard compressed at the edges of the pipebowl but less hard in the center. This is advantageous both whenlighting the pipe and for getting an even combustion. Of course, thecasing may be given any suitable form in cross section, preferablycircular asshown in Figs. 2 and 5, or elliptic, as shown in Figs. 4 and6.

These figures also illustrate an embodiment, in

end to end and provided with integral flanges at both ends, said flangesbeing in the form of funnels and of different sizes, and a needleinsertable and adjustable in said casing,said needle being longer thanthe casing and covered by the latterv for substantially its entirelength, and having at least three shanks, said shanks being individuallyresiliently spaced apart in such a manner that the needle is maintainedin any arbitrary position in the casing, said needle consisting of anintegral resilient wire, the end portions of the needle constituting thetwo outer shanks, the intermediate shank being-a double-folded portionof the wire, the elementsof saidv double-folded portion lying close toone another, each of said shanks diverging in a different direction, andone of the elements of the double-folded shankbeing fixed tothe. otherelement for a portionof its length. 1 .2., A utensil for tobacco-pipescomprising a tubular, relatively thin-walled casing open from end to endand provided with integral flanges at both ends, said flanges being inthe form of fun,- nels and of different sizes, and a needle insertableand adjustablein said casing, said needle being longer than the casingand covered by the latter for substantially its entire length and havingat least three shanks, said shanks being individually resiliently spacedapart in such a mannerthat the needle is maintained in any arbitraryposition in the casing, said needle consisting of an integral resilientwire, the end portions of the needle constituting the twoouter shanks,the intermediate shank being a double-folded portion of the wire, theelements of said double-folded portion lying close to one another, eachof said shanks diverging in a different direction, each shank being ofadifferent length, and one of the elements of the'double-folded shankbeing fixed to the other element for .a portionof its length. a I

3. A utensil for tobacco-pipes comprising a tubular, relativelythin-walled casing open from end to end and provided with integralflanges at both ends, said flanges being in the form of funnels andof'different sizes, and a needle insertable and adjustable in saidcasing, said needle being longer-than the casing and covered by thelatter for substantially its entire length and having at least threeshanks, said shanks being individually resiliently spaced'apart in sucha man'- ner'that the needle is maintained in any'arbitrary position inthe casing, said needlejconsisting of an integral resilient wire, theend portions of the needle constituting the two outer shanks, theintermediate shank being a double-folded portion of the wire, theelementsof said double-folded portion lying close to one another, eachof said shanks diverging in a different direction, each shank being of adifferentlength and one of the elements of the double-folded shank beingfixed to the other element for a portion of its length by being woundtightly around the other.

4. A utensil for tobacco-pipes comprising a tubularrelativelythin-walled casing open from end to end provided with integralflanges, one of the flanges being unsymmetrical, and a needle insertableand adjustable in said casing, said needle being longer than the casingand covered by the latter for substantially its entire length and havingat least three shanks, said shanks being individually resiliently spacedapart in such a manner that the needle is maintained in any arbitraryposition in the casing, said needle consisting of an integral resilientwire, the end portions of the needle constituting the two outer shanks,the intermediate shank being a doublefolded portion lying close to oneanother, each of said shanks diverging in a different direction, eachshank being of a different length, and one of the elements of thedouble-folded shank being fixed to the other element for a portion ofits length.

'5. A utensil for tobacco-pipes comprising a tubular casing of acircular cross-section open from end to end and provided with integralflanges at both ends, said flanges being in the form. of funnels and ofdifferent sizes, and a tions of the needle constituting the two outershanks, the intermediate shank being a doublefolded portion of the wire,the elements of said double-folded portion lying close to one another}each of said shanks diverging in a different direction, each shank beingof a different length, and one of the elements of the double-foldedshank being fixed to the'other element for a portion of its length.

6. A utensilior tobacco-pipes comprising a tubular casing of an ellipticcross-section open from end to end and provided with integral flanges atboth ends, said fiangesbeing in'the form of funnels and of differentsizes, anda needle inserta'ble and adjustable in said casing,said'needle being longer than the casing and covered by the latter forsubstantially its" entire length, and having at least three shanks, saidshanks being individually resiliently spaced apart in such a manner thatthe needle is maintained in any arbitrary position in the casing, saidnee dle consisting of an integral resilient wirefthe end portons of theneedle constituting the two outer shanks, the intermediate shank being adouble-folded portion of the wire, the elements of said double-foldedportion'lying close: to one another, each ofsaid shanks diverging in adifferent direction, each shank being of a difierent length, and one ofthe elements of the doublefolded shank being fixed to the other elementfor a portion of its length.

CLAES AXEL KLINGZENSTIERNA;

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of record. in'the fileofthis patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENT

